10 sure ways to love Allah

10 sure ways to love Allah

The most pleasing human emotion is love and the most beautiful form of love is to love Allah. We stay away from sin because we fear Allah and we fear the punishment of Hellfire, but we worship Allah and do good deeds and draw nearer to Allah because we love Allah and we hope for Paradise.

Love between the worshiper and the Creator feels so satisfying and it fills your heart, especially when you know that Allah loves you. Among the names and attributes of Allah is Al-Wadud, meaning The Most Loving, The Most Affectionate, The Beloved, The Loving-Kindness.

To love Allah is more than simply pronouncing your love of Allah; it is acting upon this love by obeying Him, worshiping Him, liking what He likes, and disliking what He dislikes.

Love must be nurtured in order for it to grow and for you to experience the fruits of this love.

It is a normal part of our human condition to experience highs and lows when it comes to the level of our worship. There are times when we feel the love of Allah is alive and ever present in our hearts and we take delight in our rituals of worship and calling upon Allah.

There are other times when we feel the love of Allah is there but is more subtle, and we may feel distanced from Allah and less motivated.

Even the scholars recognized that we need ways to help us intensify our love of Allah and to help us stay motivated, and they have listed effective steps of keeping the love of Allah alive in our hearts. If you are currently going through a slump, and you feel that you need a boost in your love of Allah, read on.

1. Reading the Holy Qur’an with understanding. The Holy Qur’an is a book of guidance, so we must not only read its verses, but comprehend what we read, contemplate on the meanings, and implement what we read. When reading the Qur’an, we can try to read the meanings, or watch videos of respectable scholars who explain the meanings of the verses.

2. Performing voluntary prayers. The prayer no doubt strengthens our connection with Allah, and more so the voluntary prayer because we stand for this prayer purely for the sake of Allah, even though it is not obligatory. It is a two-way love because Allah returns this love for the one who performs the voluntary prayers. It was narrated by Abu Hurayrah that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in a longer Hadith, “Allah the Mighty and Sublime said, ‘My servant draws not near to Me withanything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him.’” To increase our love for Allah and to be loved by Allah, we should start performing the sunnah prayers. As a quick review, the sunnah prayers are two rak’ah before fajr, four before dhuhr and two after it, two after maghrib, and two after ishaa.

3. Remembrance of Allah. Try to be in a constant state of remembering Allah, mentioning His name, praising Him, glorifying Him, thanking Him, and asking for forgiveness. Some people, simply by filling their waiting times throughout the day, say istighfar 500 times a day.

4. Remain humble. Humility is equivalent to submission to Allah. We should abandon selfishness and pride in our human power, and stand humbled, meek, and submissive as servants of Allah.

5. Give in charity from things that are dear to you. This really challenges your heart. When a clothes drive or toy drive comes around for the poor, do not give the worn out clothes you do not want, but give from your new, clean, and beautiful clothes. Have you heard how Aisha, Prophet Muhammad’s wife, used to give out the coins in charity to the poor? Aisha used to perfume the coins in musk before giving them in charity. When asked why she did this, she explained that the charity reaches Allah before it touches the hand of the person in need.

6. Remembering Allah’s Beautiful Names and Attributes. Learning the Names and Attributes of Allah will increase our love and awe towards Allah.

7. Performing the night prayers, qiyam ul layl. What truly sets apart the ordinary Muslim from a devout believer, who is close to Allah, is the ability to wake up before fajr and pray the qiyam prayers. This is a time full of blessings and rewards from Allah.

8. Keeping good company. The people you choose to surround yourself with influences your relationship with Allah, because some people draw you closer to Allah while others take you further away from Him.

9. Going against worldly desires. Preventing yourself from over indulging in worldly desires helps you live a healthy, balanced life, and keeps you in constant awareness of the transient nature of this world. For example, saving up money is good but greed and miserliness is frowned down upon. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying a delicious meal, gluttony and overeating is discouraged in Islam.

10. Gratitude towards Allah. We are immersed in countless blessings and gifts from Allah and we often neglect thanking Allah and expressing our gratefulness for what we have. The more we thank Allah and acknowledge His blessings, the more we feel the love of Allah, and the more Allah will give us. The verse in the Holy Qur’an says, {And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you (in favor); but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.’}

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Peace, comfort prevail as over 1.5m pray in Makkah, Madinah

source: saudigazette.com.sa

OVER 1.5 million pilgrims, visitors and worshipers performed Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah in peace and comfort after successfully completing their Haj rituals.

In Makkah, the pilgrims and worshipers began arriving at the Grand Mosque smoothly right from the break of dawn.

Authorities were seen exerting all their efforts to provide the pilgrims with the best possible services. The courtyards, gates and walkways were all ready before the arrival of the pilgrims and worshipers. The agencies made sure that the movement of pilgrims and worshipers was streamlined.

With temperatures around 40 Celsius (110 Fahrenheit) many pilgrims carried water and tried to help each other. Pilgrims who could not walk were pushed around in wheelchairs by volunteers and workers.

Regularly-spaced taps provided thirsty pilgrims with spring water. At all the Grand Mosque’s entrances, policemen controlled the movement of pilgrims who expressed joy and happiness for being in the proximity of the Grand Mosque.

They performed their prayers with devotion, tranquility and peace of mind amid an integrated system of services and arrangements provided by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman as well as the nongovernment agencies. The services provided were supervised by the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques within the second stage of the presidency’s Haj plan.

The circumambulation (mataf) area was full of pilgrims performing their farewell Tawaf (Tawaf Al-Wadaa) before their departure from the holy lands. The expansion of the mataf facilitated an orderly, methodical and systemized performance of the important ritual.

The pilgrims and worshipers were able to perform Friday prayer in full security and safety.

Copies of the Holy Qur’an were available in large numbers and were easily accessible. Chilled Zamzam water and plastic tumblers were easily available. Cleaners kept the Grand Mosque clean. Air-conditioners, fans, loudspeakers and facilities for hearing the spontaneous translation of the Khutba (Friday sermon) were available, aside from golf carts and wheelchairs to help the aged and people with special needs.

In Madinah too, worshipers started arriving at the Prophet’s Mosque from early morning. All the government agencies, the mosque’s administrations and the nongovernment sector exerted their utmost efforts to provide the best services to the worshipers. The pilgrims performed Friday prayer before departing from Madinah for their respective countries after performing their Haj rites.

The pilgrims expressed gratitude to King Salman, Crown Prince Muhammad and Emir of Madinah Prince Faisal Bin Salman for the best services they were provided.

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Umrah packages 2017 UK - British haj travel from UK

Umrah packages 2017 UK - British haj travel from UK

British haj travel is well-known for providing the best Umrah packages 2017 UK then, it is a prominent travel company in the UK and also approved by the Ministry of Hajj. For those who still not plan for Umrah, now it's time for them to wake up and get ready for this sacred trip.

British haj travel provide cheapest Umrah packages with flights bookings, hotel accommodations, fully air-conditioned local transport and much more under the appropriate guidance of our professional staff. Everything is allocated within the packages taking into account the need of UK citizens. Likewise, our clients just need to choose the date for their departure and the rest will be taken care by us. Our expert tour operators assist our customers in the best and professional manner so they are not left out of our exciting packages of Umrah. We offer all packages catering the convenience of England Muslims. From Cheap Umrah Packages to affordable, economy and luxurious packages, we provide what our clients desire. Not only this, our skilled travel agents in London will help you throughout your journey to make it a memorable one.

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Every Muslims wants to perform Umrah and Hajj with the best of their efforts under affordable circumstances. In order to make their trip memorable and spiritual they opt for the economically cheap and effective costs so as to overcome money constraints. British haj travel will help you for that by offering best travel deals. With the best Umrah packages 2017 we ensure you a quality that you will never regret about. To make your trip comfortable and memorable, British haj travel provide you a wide range of Umrah packages 2017. You can choose any package according to your budget with the best 3, 4 and 5 star hotel accommodation and transport facilities. 

Now you do not have to be away from the Holy Places, www.britishhajtravel.com will make your stay easy and as near as you wish to be around the Holy Places. All the hotels would be near the Holy Places so you do not have to waste time in travelling. People going from far off places like Birmingham, Manchester for Umrah 2017 they wish to spend much time in Ibada, praying Salah and offering nawafil. They wish to be around the Holy Kaabah and Madinah as much they can. For this very purpose, people prefer to stay in Mosque in order to save time. But now with British haj travel you can concentrate your prayers without worrying about your travelling. You can go to your nearby hotel and can come back whenever you want to without being tired. 

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Prime travel agency of the UK, British Hajj Travel Ltd is famous for offering best Hajj and Umrah deals to British pilgrims.

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Unraveling wonders in the Holy Qur’an

Unraveling wonders in the Holy Qur’an

Ramadan is the month of fasting, and it is also the month of Qur’an. It was during Ramadan that the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

{The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.} (Chapter 2, verse 185 of the Holy Qu’ran)

Eager to gain the rewards in this month, many of us rush to read the entire Qur’an and we compete to complete even more than once before the month is over. While dedicating your time to reading the Qur’an is no doubt praiseworthy, I call upon my Muslim brothers and sisters to take a slightly different approach this Ramadan.

Rather than hastily reading through, why not pick a certain chapter or chapters of the Qur’an and delve deeply into the meanings of the verses, the lessons to be learned, the context in which they were revealed during the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), studying the history, and also the implications the verses carry for our lives today? Rather than simply, we need to work hard to understand the Qur’an. Alternately, you can pick a certain topic and research it in-depth in the Holy Qur’an, for example stories of the prophets, or the description of Paradise. Another recommendation is to use the Qur’an as a blue print to develop your character. For example, study the verses which speak about patience or piety or the characteristics of a believer in general.

For a class which I offer the girls in our community, we picked Surah Al-Israa, the Chapter of the Night Journey, to explore the meanings of the verses, and we have learned a lot and greatly enjoyed the classes.

The Qur’an, the word of God, is a book of guidance for humanity. Students of the Qur’an never cease to be amazed by the wonders found in it.

Researchers have studied the numbers of times that certain words are repeated in the Qur’an which causes us to appreciate the Qur’an even more.

The word ‘day’ (yawm) is repeated in its singular form 365 times, while the plural and dual forms, ‘days’ (ayyam and yawmayn) together are repeated 30 times. The number of repetitions of the word ‘month’ (shahar) is 12.
The words ‘Paradise’ and ‘Hellfire’ are each repeated the same number of times, 77 times. The significance I draw from this is that the believer must live his/her life in a balance between fear of Allah and fear of the punishment, but also hope in Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, and the yearning to enter Paradise.

The words, ‘world’ (dunya) and ‘Hereafter’ (akhira) are repeated an equal number of times, 115 times. Although there may not be great importance in the numbers, we should ponder on the importance of mentioning this world and the next world an equal amount of times in the Qur’an.

The ultimate priority in a believer’s life is worshiping Allah, but that does not mean we can neglect our duties and responsibilities of building and protecting this Earth. What comes to mind is the saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), “If the Resurrection were established upon one of you while he has in his hand a sapling, then let him plant it.” (Musnad Ahmad)

At the same time, we must not become so immersed in this world’s pleasures and problems that we neglect our worship. Neither work nor entertainment should blind us from dedicating enough time to the service of others and worshiping Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned us of becoming entranced by worldly affairs; he said, “By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you, but I fear that this world will be spread out in front of you as it was spread out in front of those before you, and then you will vie for it as they vied for it, and it will destroy you as it destroyed them” (Riyad as-Salihin by Imam Nawawi)

Another finding in the Qur’an I marveled over is the reference to the land and sea. The word ‘land’ appears 13 times in the Qur’an and the word ‘sea’ 32 times, giving a total of 45 references. The number of total references to land and sea, 45, divided by the number of references to the sea in the Qur’an, 32, and multiplied by 100 is 71.1%. Extraordinarily, these figures represent the exact proportions of land and sea on the Earth.

source: saudigazette.com.sa

All Houses of Worship are Sacred

source: saudigazette.com.sa

All Houses of Worship are Sacred

Killing innocent people and spilling blood in a house of worship is in no way Islamic, and it goes against Islamic teachings and principles. At least 27 people were killed in a blast inside a church in the northern city of Tanta in Egypt. And in Alexandria, 18 civilians and four police officers were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a Coptic church.

When ISIS claimed responsibility for these attacks, any clear thinker will draw the conclusion that ISIS does not represent Islam and Muslims. It causes one to question, what religion is ISIS really following? How does ISIS justify such heinous acts when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) granted protection to Christians living among Muslims? If ISIS was truly seeking to establish an Islamic state, religious minorities living among them would have been granted protection and religious freedom.

Our societies are in need of studying and reading more on the history of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace be upon him). In fact, both the Islamophobes and the extremists may be unaware of the covenant between Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Christians. Both the Islamophobes and the extremists falsely interject violence, hatred, and intolerance in the religion of Islam.

St. Catherine’s Monastery is located in the Sinai region in Egypt and it is believed to be the oldest working Christian monastery in the world. The monastery possesses a large collection of Christian manuscripts. One of the most precious documents of all is the copy of a letter given to Christian monks by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The original letter is found in Topkapi Museum in Istanbul.

In 628 AD, a delegation from St. Catherine’s Monastery came to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and requested his protection.

He granted them protection and provided them with a letter which is called the “Charter of Privileges.” The privileges of protection ad safety for the monks were upheld by Muslims for centuries.  The letter reads:
“This is a message from Muhammad, son of Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.

Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.

No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.

No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.

Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation of (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant until the Last Day.”

As for the notion by some people that Islam approves of or even encourages attacking Christian civilians, the scholarsMuhammad Abdullah Al-Khatib and Dr. Abdus-Sattar F. Saeed issued the following statement: “Islam does not only prohibit assaulting non-Muslims who do not wrong us, Islam urges us to treat non-Muslims well and be just when dealing with them. It is prohibited to attack non-Muslims’ places of worship. Freedom of religion and belief is a right which Islam guarantees, as Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an, {Let there be no compulsion in religion.} (Chapter 2, verse 256).
To those who claim that Islam supports the perpetration of violence against people of other religions, they are overlooking Prophet Muhammad’s instructions to not kill any child, woman, elder, or sick person. Mutilation is prohibited. To uproot, burn, or cut down trees is prohibited.  Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Do not destroy the villages and towns, do not spoil the cultivated fields and gardens, and do not slaughter the cattle.” (Sahih Bukhari)

It is recorded in Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Do not kill the monks in monasteries and do not kill those sitting in places of worship.”

It seems we need to re-learn the character of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his mercy, compassion, tolerance, generosity, devotion, and worship.
The Muslims in Egypt responded by gathering in mosques to donate blood for the injured survivors of the attacks in the churches.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Why Muslim Women Wear the Veil

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Why Muslim Women Wear the Veil

In recent years, a small piece of cloth has managed to cause quite a stir.  The scarf or hijab that Muslim women wear on their heads is making headlines around the world.  Hijab is banned in French public schools and other European countries have adopted, or are drafting similar legislation.  In Australia, a radio presenter triggered both debate and outrage when he called for the face veil (niqab) to be banned from banks and post offices.  Even predominantly Muslim countries such as Turkey and Tunisia ban the hijab in certain government buildings.  When a small piece of fabric causes such controversy and conflict, wouldn’t it be easier to remove it?  Why then, under such circumstances, do Muslim women wear scarves?

There are a myriad of reasons why, but the easy, one sentence answer is, because they believe God has made it an obligation for believing women.  In the Quran God tells the believing men and women to lower their gaze and to dress modestly.  He (God) specifically addresses women when He asks them not to show off their adornment, except that which is apparent, and draw their veils over their bodies.  (Quran 24:30-31)

These verses of Quran are known as the verses of hijab and it is the consensus of Islamic scholars that they make the wearing of hijab mandatory.  Some countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar do enforce a dress code.  Women there are expected to cover their hair and wear some sort of loose fitting, full-length garment over their clothes.  However, for the majority of Muslim women around the world, to cover, or not to cover, is a freely made choice. God requires Muslim women to dress modestly and to wear the hijab in public and in the presence of men who are not close relatives.

Although the English word scarf and the Arabic term hijab have become interchangeable, it is worth noting that hijab is more than just a scarf.  It is a term that covers a variety of clothing including scarves, but also a variety of different dress styles from around the world.  Many have cultural connotations such as the Pakistani shalwar khamis or the Afghani burqa, but whenever a Muslim woman covers “her adornment”, she is said to be wearing hijab.

The literal meaning of hijab is to veil, to cover, or to screen.  Islam is known as a religion concerned with community cohesion and moral boundaries, and therefore hijab is a way of ensuring that the moral boundaries between unrelated men and women are respected.  In this sense, the term hijab encompasses more than a scarf and more then a dress code.  It is a term that denotes modest dressing and modest behaviour.  For instance, if a Muslim woman was wearing a scarf but at the same time using bad language, she would not be fulfilling the requirements of hijab.

The majority of Muslim women wear hijab, to obey God, and to be known as respectable women.  (Quran 33:59)  However, in the last 30 years hijab has emerged as a sign of Islamic consciousness.  Many women see wearing the hijab as indicative of their desire to be part of an Islamic revival, especially in countries where the practice of Islam is discouraged or even forbidden.

While those who seek to ban hijab refer to it as a symbol of gender based repression, the women who choose to don a scarf, or to wear hijab, in the broadest sense of the word, do so by making personal decisions and independent choices.  They view it as a right and not a burden.  Nor do these women regard hijab as a sign of oppression.  Women who wear hijab often describe themselves as being “set free” from society’s unrealistic fashion culture.

Hijab frees women from being thought of as sexual objects of desire or from being valued for their looks, or body shape rather then their minds and intellect.  No longer slaves to consumerism, hijab liberates women from the need to conform to unrealistic stereotypes and images dictated by the media.  Women wearing hijab have expressed that dressing modestly and covering their hair, minimises sexual harassment in the workplace. The aura of privacy created by hijab is indicative of the great value Islam places upon women.

Women who choose to wear hijab do not make the decision lightly.  In fact many women testify that they faced great animosity from their Muslim or non-Muslim families when they decided to cover.  Across the globe there are numerous instances of women having to defend their right to wear the hijab.

Hijab can be a symbol of piety and it can be a sign of great inner strength and fortitude.  A woman wearing hijab becomes a very visible sign of Islam.  While Muslim men can blend easily into any society, Muslim woman are often put on the line, and forced to defend not only their decision to cover, but also their religion.  Nevertheless, women who wear hijab insist that the advantages far outweigh any disadvantage conjured up by media bias or general ignorance.

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Prime travel agency of the UK, British Hajj Travel Ltd is famous for offering best Hajj and Umrah deals to British pilgrims.

VIP Umrah 7 Nights       Golden Umrah 7 Nights       Silver Umrah 7 Nights      Deluxe Umrah 7 Nights

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Umrah packages 2017 UK by British haj travel

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Umrah packages 2017 UK by British haj travel

British haj travel is privileged to provide the best Umrah packages 2017 uk as well other Umrah related services in the aviation industry. We have a strong commitment to serve our respected clients by giving them our best packages. Unfortunately, the industry has developed the repute of not providing appropriate service packages. But we British haj travel assure its clients of delivering services up to the mark. We believe in valuing our client’s money upon anything else.

Umrah is a sacred journey taken at any time of the year. A person who visits the Holy Kaabah and Madinah is considered to be the most fortunate person. Allah (S.W.T) sends His countless Blessings and Mercy upon this place and only the one who abstains from all kinds of sins is able to attract these Blessings. But many people get stuck with issues during their journey owing to the misleading services and troubles confronted during the travel. For this purpose, we are here to assure our valued clients with our best professional services before and after Umrah journey and best price Umrah packages from UK.

Our tours are designed to your needs and requirements. We also take into account the fact that the majority of our Muslims brothers and sisters are visiting the Holy Land for the first time. We understand your desire to concentrate your worship without getting worried about your logistical hurdles. Therefore, we take the hassle from your tour and leave you a trouble free Umrah.

We provide services starting from letting you decide the package of your choice, to your visa approval, to your departure and arrival at the airport, to your needs during the travel we ensure that everything is done at our best to give the comfort you desire. So do not miss the opportunity to take Umrah 2017 with our Umrah Packages 2017 and let us take care of you leaving you to seek Blessings of Allah (S.W.T).

Our customer care executives are available 24/7 to help you assist any troubles you may face. We assure that our clients are not left alone in the hour of need therefore our representatives will be present at the airport to make sure that you have a safe tour. Furthermore, in case of emergency we will provide you our contact numbers so that you do not have any problem. We have been serving the guests of Allah (S.W.T) for more than a decade and we are honoured to imprint a hallmark in the air travel with our exemplary services and efforts. For those who are booking for the first time, we are financially protected by ATOL and IATA, so there is no need to worry about your money. We serve you at our best.

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Prime travel agency of the UK, British Hajj Travel Ltd is famous for offering best Hajj and Umrah deals to British pilgrims.

VIP Umrah 7 Nights       Golden Umrah 7 Nights       Silver Umrah 7 Nights     

Deluxe Umrah 7 Nights       Ramadan Umrah Package (14 Night)

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Islam in the Fabric of African American History

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Islam in the Fabric of African American History

Islam is not an imported, foreign religion brought to America by immigrants from Arab countries and from the Indo-Pak communities in the past couple of decades. Islam is part of the fabric of American history. The Southern regions of America were actually built on the backs, sweat, blood, and toil of the African slaves brought to this country at its very founding, and many of them were Muslim.

Slavery in America began when the first African slaves were brought to the North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619, to work on lucrative field crops, such as tobacco. The cruel practice of slavery spread throughout the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries, and African-American slaves helped build the economic foundations of the new nation. The production of cotton solidified the importance of slavery to the South’s economy.

Men, women, and children were captured mainly from West Africa. They were sold to slave traders, forced on to ships, and kept in appalling conditions for the long journey across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas. Historians estimate that at the height of the slave trade in the 18th century, up to 7 million Africans had undertaken this voyage. It is estimated that up to 30% of the enslaved in North America were Muslim.

Maintaining their religion was difficult and many were forcibly converted to Christianity. Any effort to practice Islam, and keep the traditional clothing and names alive had to be done in secret. The slaves were treated as subhuman and their owners tried to erase everything about their past, their history, beliefs and religion, their right to freedom, and their family ties.

Nonetheless, evidence of Muslim origins has been found in documented Arabic texts written by the slaves in captivity. Most of these texts turned out to be memorized verses of the Qur’an, handwritten by the slaves. These texts reveal the slaves’ struggle to maintain their religious beliefs. It shows their high level of education attained in Africa prior to enslavement and forced emigration. Many of them were learned in the Qur’an and Islamic sciences and they could read and write Arabic. Unfortunately, slavery has systematically silenced them, so our present knowledge of these educated people is lacking.

In addition to this, Muslim names can be found in reports of runaway slaves and among the rosters of soldiers in the American war for independence. Many slaves were forced to accept Christian names; however, some kept their Muslim names. Historians discovered men living in the American South named Abd ar-Rahman, Bilali Mohammed, Salih Bilali, Omar ibn Said, and Yarrow Mamout, who maintained Islamic names.

Among those captured into slavery was Job Ben Solomon. His real name was Ayyub ibn Sulayman ibn Ibrahim, he was born in Gambia, West Africa, in 1701 to a prosperous Muslim family. By age 15, he was trained to be an Imam. At age 29, he was on a trading mission. He was seized by a band of men, taken to the coast where he was sold as a slave and transported to work on a tobacco plantation in Maryland. Solomon ran away but was captured and imprisoned. During his incarceration, he met the lawyer Thomas Bluett who became impressed by his story and helped buy his freedom. The two travelled together to England in 1734 where Solomon learnt English and became a prominent intellectual. His transcriptions of the Qur’an are still preserved in Oxford. He later returned to his homeland where he resumed his inherited position.

Another African Muslim, Omar ibn Said was born around 1770 in an African region near the Senegal River, which now forms Senegal’s northern border with Mauritania. Omar ibn Said, an African Muslim, had studied arithmetic, business, and theology before he was enslaved, shipped across the Atlantic, and sold. After he was sold to a South Carolina planter, Said escaped and made his way to North Carolina, where he was imprisoned after entering a Christian church to pray. He was described as the remarkable runaway slave who wrote on the walls of his prison cell from right to left in an unknown language, which was Arabic. He was writing verses from the Qur’an.

Omar ibn Said then became the legal property of General James Owen of Bladen County, who recognized Said to be an educated man and, according to Said’s autobiography, treated him well.

What is unclear is whether Omar ibn Said was able to maintain his religious faith. An anonymous author of an article in The Christian Advocate claims that Said converted from “the Mohamedan religion to Christianity.” However in his own autobiography, Said’s language reflects more ambiguity about his religious beliefs. He never explicitly rejects Islam, the religion of his upbringing, or professes faith in a Christian God.

As Patrick E. Horn, professor of American literature and history at the University of North Carolina wrote, “Like that of other Africans who were enslaved and brought to America Omar ibn Said’s situation was fraught with complexity. He was both African and American, a non-native English speaker, a Muslim surrounded by Christians, a slave in the “land of the free.” In order to please a master who was both generous and persuasive, he may have made certain concessions, representing his life and his beliefs in ways he knew would be well-received.”

Other accounts tell of Abdul Rahman ibn Ibrahim Sori, a West African Muslim nobleman and ruler of the city of Timbo, now located in Guinea. Abdul Rahman had studied the Islamic sciences and could speak 4 different African languages, in addition to Arabic. He was the colonel of an army and was on a military campaign when he and his men were ambushed. Abdul Rahman and 50 other men were captured and sold to a British slave ship captain.
Abdul Rahman was brought to Natchez, Mississippi where he labored on the cotton plantation of Thomas Foster for more than thirty-eight years. Some claim that Abdul Rahman converted to Christianity when he married his wife, Isabella, another of Foster’s slaves. They had five sons and four daughters.

While selling produce in the market, Abdul Rahman ran into an old friend, Dr. Coates Cox. Abdul Rahman and his father had aided Dr. Cox during his travels in Africa. Dr. Cox tried to purchase Abdul Rahman from Thomas Foster, but was unsuccessful. Two decades later, Dr. Cox’s son, with the assistance of Andrew Marschalk, a local newspaper publisher, launched a campaign to liberate Abdul Rahman.

In 1826, Abdul Rahman wrote a letter in Arabic to his family. Marschalk forwarded the letter to the U. S. Consulate in Morocco. The Arabic handwriting caused others to believe that Abdul Rahman was from Morocco. The letter actually contained scriptures from the Qur’an which Abdul Rahman memorized and wrote down. Despite these mistakes, the Sultan of Morocco took interest in Abdul Rahman and offered funds to liberate Abdul Rahman and pay for his passage to Africa. In 1828, the Adams Administration gave Marschalk permission to secure Abdul Rahman’s freedom.

Abdul Rahman wanted to free his wife and children. He collected funds to liberate Isabella. They then traveled North; meeting with abolitionist groups to raise money to purchase their children from Foster. They were unable raise sufficient funds to liberate their entire family. Abdul Rahman was able to liberate two of his children and their families, before he immigrated to Liberia in Africa, but he never saw his hometown again.

Although the American system of slavery crushed the religious practices of African-American Muslims in the past, current research is shedding new light on this interesting topic.

Types of Packages

Prime travel agency of the UK, British Hajj Travel Ltd is famous for offering best Hajj and Umrah deals to British pilgrims.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Umrah Flights | British haj travel 2017 and 2018

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Umrah Flights | British haj travel 2017 and 2018

In 2001, British haj travel Company was established to compete in the untapped religious market all over the world especially during Hajj and Umrah seasons. British haj travel is considered the largest carrier of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Hajj & Umrah flights operations are planned across different continents including Europe, Africa, and Asia. The group, NAS Holding, has extensive exposure and experience in the aviation industry. In the year 1431H, the governments of Senegal, Cameroon, and India awarded the Hajj contracts. These included extended dedicated Hajj & Umrah services from a total of 11 destinations within these 3 countries to Jeddah and Medina. The operations resulted in successfully uplifting of 40,000 pilgrims with 127 flights operated for each phase a total of 254 Hajj flights.The overall operation was described as a smooth operation with excellent customer experience.

Up until today, British haj travel Aviation continues to expand its operations into different countries across different regions. In 1436/2015 British haj travel has successfully uplifted over 101,000 pilgrims and operated 335 flights for each phase a total of 671 Hajj flights to 17 countries in Africa, India and Central Asia.

Types of Umrah Packages:

Prime travel agency of the UK, British Hajj Travel Ltd is famous for offering best Hajj and Umrah deals to British pilgrims.

VIP Umrah 7 Nights  | Golden Umrah 7 Nights   |  Silver Umrah 7 Nights 

Deluxe Umrah 7 Nights  |  Ramadan Umrah Package (14 Night)

source: flynas.com

To the heartbroken one, your prayers can become a reality

source: flickr

To the heartbroken one, your prayers can become a reality

Approximately two years ago, my mum and I were talking about Hajj and Umrah (pilgrimage) and she told me how much she wanted to go. She’d always watch the live coverage of Hajj, Umrah and Friday khutbahs (sermons) they show on TV and dreamt of living that experience one day. Even though we could afford to go Umrah, something or another would always come up, whether it was school, university or work.

I was adamant that I wanted to make my mum’s dream come to fruition. That Ramadan, I kept making the same duaa: to be able to go Umrah with my mum. I remember constantly making that same prayer while in the state of sujood (prostration), after praying, before breaking my fast, during taraweeh (the night prayer) and during tahajud (prayer in the last third of the night).

Ramadan had passed and a few weeks later, an advertisement came up on TV about a game show called ‘5 Pillars’ which tested your knowledge on, of course, the five pillars of Islam. They announced that the winner would receive two Umrah tickets. I entered the competition, not really thinking they’d get back to me, but a couple of weeks later they emailed me and told me I’d been selected to take part in the show.

There were a series of rounds; I won all the rounds and was told I was put through to the finals! I was extremely nervous, but I continued to make duaa. The day of the finals came and I was up against a guy who had hardly got any answers wrong up until this point and I had this horrible feeling that I was going to lose. But I pushed on, and in the rapid fire round, I got the highest number of correct answers the show had ever had.

They announced me as the winner and my mum and I were completely speechless! I couldn’t believe I had won, as I didn’t even think I would make it to the finals, but I did. However, I knew I didn’t win because I was overly smart, pious or even lucky, I just had a strong belief in the power of duaa and the generosity of God.

I got to perform Umrah and what made it even better was that I also managed to fulfil my mother’s wish, Alhamdulillah (all praise to God). Umrah was a surreal experience and a journey that I hope everyone gets the chance to go on, and I hope my parents and I are able to complete Hajj in the future too.

Ever since then, I have never underestimated the power of duaa and the doors it opens, and when I look back on all the times I’ve made duaa, I can’t say I’ve ever been disappointed. We often forget the power God possesses in giving us what we want and desire, despite him being Al-Wadud (the loving), Al-Malik (the King/absolute ruler) and Al-Mujeeb (the One who responds).

I decided to share this to give some hope to those who have been making duaa but feel like they are never heard, to the person who makes the same duaa every day but wants to give up, to those who feel alone, and to those who doubt as to whether God actually listens to our prayers. I guarantee you, He does. You’ve got to put effort in and be patient, but pair whatever you want with duaa. No duaa is too big. He always listens.

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Source: themuslimvibe.com

Christians and Muslims

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Christians and Muslims

Islam is a religion that embodies peace, mercy, tolerance, and kindness. To learn about Islam’s stance on Christians, open the Holy Qur’an and look to the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his interactions with Christians. Mainstream media and radical groups like ISIS are misrepresenting Islam and our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him).

The first encounter Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had with Christians was a positive one, and it goes back to when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was twelve years old. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) accompanied his uncle, Abu Talib, on a business journey to Syria. On their way, and on the outskirts of Syria, they came across a Christian monk, Bahira.

Bahira had studied old manuscripts which informed of a final prophet who would come forth from Arabia. What caught Bahira’s attention was a particular caravan from Makkah which was   shaded by a cloud that hovered closely above them. The cloud moved as the caravan moved, and did not go any further when they stopped; as if it were providing shade for a person or people in the group. He also noticed that a tree lowered its branches over the caravan to provide further shade. He realized that this caravan must contain someone extraordinary.

The monk invited the merchants to a feast. They accepted the invitation and Bahira saw in Muhammad (peace be upon him) the signs of the prophet as described in his scriptures.

He said to Muhammad’s uncle, “This is the master of all humans. Allah will send him with a Message which will be a mercy to all beings.”

Bahira told Muhammad’s uncle to take him back to Makkah to protect him.

Indeed, Bahira’s prediction came true. In adulthood, when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) first received revelation from Allah, he was shaken with fear and he told his wife, Khadija, what had happened. She took him to her cousin, Waraqa ibn Nawfal, who was a respected man and a well known Christian scholar.

Waraqa said, “This is the Angel of Revelation, just as he had come to Moses. I wish I were younger. I wish I could live up to the time when your people would turn you out.”

“If I should be alive to that day, then I would support you strongly,” Waraqa said.

A few days later, Waraqa died.

When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) openly called people to Islam, the pagans in Makkah severely persecuted the new Muslims. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) knew that Ashamah Negus, the king of Abyssinia (Ethiopia), was a fair and peaceful ruler, so he permitted some of his followers to escape to Abyssinia.

The fleeing Muslims were welcomed and received with hospitality by the Christian king, Negus. The disbelievers of Quraish in Makkah were indignant that the Muslims were finding a safe haven to worship freely in Abyssinia so they sent envoys to Negus to demand that he hand over the Muslims. The men of Quraish went to Negus to instill hatred of the Muslims in the hearts of the Christians. They said that the followers of Muhammad (peace be upon him) blasphemed Jesus Christ.

The king summoned the Muslim emigrants and asked them what they believed about Jesus Christ.

Jafar bin Abi Talib, Prophet Muhammad’s cousin, said, “We speak about Jesus as we have been taught by our Prophet (peace be upon him), that is, he is the servant of Allah, His Messenger, His spirit and His Word breathed into Virgin Mary.”

Negus responded, “Even so do we believe. Blessed be you, and blessed be your master.”


Negus refused to expel the Muslims from Abyssinia, and they lived unharmed in Abyssinia for several years until it was safe for them to travel to Madinah where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had migrated.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never forgot the kindness that Negus showed to his followers. When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) received news of the king’s death he was saddened and he made prayers for him.

It was narrated that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said to his companions, “Today a pious man from Ethiopia (Negus) has expired; come to offer the funeral prayer.” And his companions lined up in rows and they prayed for Negus.

After Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) migrated to Madinah and established the Muslim community there, a delegation of Christians from Najran (the area which is present day Yemen) visited the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Madinah. There was only a small Christian population in Madinah and Makkah; the majority of Christians lived in Najran.


Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had been sending official letters to different countries and their rulers, inviting them to Islam. Few of the Najran Christians converted to Islam; the majority of them did not change their religion after these invitations. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sent a representative to them, Mughira ibn Shu’ba, to explain the religion of Islam. After discussions with Mughira, the Christians of Najran decided to send a group of people to visit the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Madinah. The delegation was made up of about 60 well learned Christians; a bishop, 45 scholars, and 15 men. Their intention was to learn the nature of the revelations Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was receiving.



When the Najran delegation reached Madinah, they debated with the Prophet (peace be upon him) for two or three days in the masjid. The Christians prayed in the masjid where the Muslims prayed. The whole visit was a peaceful dialogue between Christians and Muslims, and it was the first time that Christians prayed in a masjid.  



Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warmly welcomed the Najran delegation and provided them with a place to stay in Madinah. He even ordered that their tent be pitched for them by the Muslims. Although the Christians of Najran and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) disagreed on a lot of issues, they had some commonalities in their faiths.

There are many commonalities between Christians and Muslims that we can use to work together in building bridges and bringing peace among societies, such as loving your neighbor, wanting for others what you want for yourself, being merciful, and saying a kind word.

A verse in the Holy Qur’an shows that there is amiability between Christians and Muslims.

{You will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say, “We are Christians.” That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant.} (Chapter 5, verse 82)

Harboring and spreading hate towards Christians, whom the Qur’an described as People of the Book, was not in the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Hajj & Umrah 2017 We have gladly offered Executive Hajj Packages 2017 & Umrah packages 2017 for our significant clients and organization customers. Go along with us and locate the new route with our best Hajj administrations.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Ruling About The Pregnant Lady

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Ruling About The Pregnant Lady

The Harram is the dream destination for the entire Muslim Ummah without any discrimination of men and women. The Allah does not prevent any of the Muslim from visiting the House (Kaaba) other than certain specific situations. Muslims regardless of sex, caste, creed and nation are always welcomed in the Makkah. Umrah is the journey to the Makkah which the Muslim can undertake at any time during the year. Although it is not obligatory, yet it is highly preferred rite in Islam. Umrah packages 2015 are offered for the Muslims from almost every corner of the world.

There are different rulings about the performance of Hajj and Umrah depending upon the situation nature of circumstances. Certain rulings are just regarding the women, as the problems and situation of the women altogether differ from the men. When it is the matter of a pregnant woman, there is no reason why a pregnant woman should not perform the Umrah. A pregnant woman is in a state of purity, she has to pray and fast, and if she is divorced by Talaaq, her divorce is acceptable according to the Sunnah. She can perform the Umrah during her pregnancy as well.

It is narrated in the Sunnah that Asma bint Umays R.A, went out for Hajj with the Prophet, peace be upon him when she was pregnant and approaching full term, and she gave birth at the Meeqat. It is further narrated by the Ayesha R.A that she gave birth to a boy, name Muhammad ibn Abi Aakr, at the place of Sharjah and the Prophet, peace be upon him, told Abu Bakr to tell her to do ghusl and enter Ahram. Narrated by Muslim, 1209.

If a woman is undertaking the Umrah, then her pregnancy is no excuse for her to be restrained for the performance of the same. She can avoid the places where there is too much crowding and pushing and shoving. If she cannot perform Tawaf and Saee, then she can do so in a wheelchair, and or assign anyone on her place to perform the same. Many people manage to do Umrah in comfort without any hardship.

A woman who is pregnant and trustworthy doctors tell her that going for Umrah will pose a risk to her or her baby because she is sick or weak or for some other reason, then she should be prevented from performing Umrah that year. This is indicated by the words of the Prophet: “There should be no harming nor reciprocating harm.” (Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 2340)

Nowadays the Umrah package 2017 UK  suppliers are making each arrangement regarding the issues arising in any  medical situation of the pregnant ladies. The pregnant women can perform their Umrah easily now with the help of Umrah packages 2015.

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source: selfgrowth.com

Ka’bah First House Built for Humanity

 Source: flickr

Ka’bah First House Built for Humanity

The Ka’bah has been built or adjusted on several occasions throughout history. The most famous builders are; the angels who originally constructed it; the first man and prophet, Adam (AS); Ebrahim (AS) with the help of his son Ismail (AS); by the Quraysh during the Jahiliyyah period (this was witnessed by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when he was 25 years old) and by Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) in 65 AH who rebuilt it according to the wish of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

Directly above the Ka'bah, at its zenith, there is a corresponding place in the heavens called the Baytul Ma’moor which holds the same status there as the Ka'bah does here on earth. Muslims perform umrah of within Ka'bah. Umrah is known to be the ‘minor Hajj’ and is a Sunnah act performed at any time of the year except for the five days of Hajj, in which it is makrooh, or disliked, to perform Umrah. One who steps out in the path of Umrah is considered a pilgrim until he reaches back home.

In a hadith found in the book of Ibn Maajah, The Prophet (PBUH) said: “The performers of Hajj and Umrah are deputations of Allah (SWT). If they call Him, He answers them and if they seek His forgiveness, He forgives them.” This hadeeth clearly shows the great significance of Umrah and how much Allah (SWT) loves those who sacrifice their time and wealth for His cause. And if you are seeking for forgives and want to go the holy place ka'bah for the forgiveness of sins. And if you are searching for Umrah Packages

Noorani travel can assist you in this matter and will provide you best services for the umrah. Noorani travel is the name of quality, we are one of the best-known companies providing its services to the whole UK. Allah (SWT) has blessed us with the noble responsibility to serve Muslim around the UK for providing best Umrah Packages 2017. The journey for forgiveness, the journey of blessing, the journey with of love with the creator.

We have the most expert team of agents who are always ready to help and assist you in the regard of this holy journey. Agents will be in contact with throughout the journey and will help you as much as they can. Noorani travel feels that how much this journey is valuable to you. So Noorani travel will do their best to make your journey accomplish amazingly by providing best Cheap Umrah Packages.

Hajj & Umrah 2017 We have gladly offered Executive Hajj Packages 2017 & Umrah packages 2017 for our significant clients and organization customers. Go along with us and locate the new route with our best Hajj administrations.

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Deluxe Umrah 7 Nights        |       Ramadan Umrah Package

Source: umrah-package-2017.blogspot.com